Butchers on strike at Ukiah Raley's

Several Raley's employees were picketing in front of the Ukiah store Monday in the second day of a strike by United Food Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 5 union.

Union Representative John Frahm said 8,000 employees across Northern California were on strike, but only those in the meat department were on strike at the Ukiah store.

"This situation is regretful, but the company refuses to negotiate in good faith," Frahm said, explaining that the corporation is "trying to intimidate members" of the union, who are striking because of "unfair labor practices."

Workers outside who declined to give their names said the company was trying to reduce their wages for Sunday and night pay and reduce their medical benefits.

One man who stopped to talk to the employees said he was confused by the flyers the employees were handing out, while another man said he supported their cause but he needed to get his prescription. Another man turned around and said he was going to shop at Lucky.

The striking employees advised shoppers to leave and instead go to Safeway, Lucky or Food Maxx. Frahm said the UFCW also represents meat workers at those stores who are not on strike.

Raley's employee Kirk Little was standing outside Monday greeting customers and thanking them for shopping at the store. He handed out flyers that said Raley's had been negotiating with the union for more than a year and the company believes "our proposal to the union is both fair to employees and accomplishes Raley's need for cost-savings."

The flyers said Raley's was not "seeking any reductions to our employees' regular hourly wages," and the company offered "generous health and welfare benefits and a positive work environment."

Little said the store did not hire any temporary workers and other employees were filling in for those on strike. He estimated that about six to seven people work in the meat department.

Little said otherwise it was "business as usual" at the store and he didn't notice anyone refusing to go inside.

Frahm said he could not guess how long the strike would continue and did not know when negotiations would begin again.

"The more the customers stay away, the shorter it will be," he said.

Justine Frederiksen can be reached at udjjf@pacific.net, on Twitter @JustFrederiksen or at 468-3521.